Lazcano: past battles will spur me against Ricky

JUAN LAZCANO believes the battles with adversity which have blighted his career will stand him in good stead when he faces Ricky Hatton in front of 55,000 fans at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday night.

The 33-year-old Mexican will start a major underdog for Hatton’s homecoming after losing his last fight to subsequent Junior Witter victim Vivian Harris in February last year.

But the respectful, God-fearing Lazcano has overcome greater obstacles, not least his first defeat to Jose Manjarrez in 1994 which was followed by almost two years out plagued by injury problems and self-doubt.